Know of a good kids' book about religion(s)?

CubbyMama

K starts preschool in a little over a week, and although we're totally NOT religious, her preschool is a Christian one that will be teaching Bible verses, talking about how God loves her, teaching the story of Jesus, etc. 

I kind of want her to have a clue about a) what they're talking about, and b) that this is just one of many sets of beliefs people have.  I realize she's not even 4 and don't want to get all complicated on her, but I do want her to know that everything taught there isn't exactly what every person on the planet knows/believes, either. 

Anyone know of a good kids' book that's maybe something along the lines of, "Some people believe blah blah blah...(insert brief explanation of a religion here) while others believe blah blah blah"?

Emjay221

That seems far too complicated at that age to me.  I would just go with it and leave that stuff for later.  Is it a non-denominational thing?

I don't think that at 3 or 4 a child can really grasp religious differences.  Hell, I know some adults can't.  

CubbyMama

Emjay221:

That seems far too complicated at that age to me.  I would just go with it and leave that stuff for later.  Is it a non-denominational thing?

I don't think that at 3 or 4 a child can really grasp religious differences.  Hell, I know some adults can't.  

It's a Baptist church so I assume that's where their teachings will lean.  Yeah, it's not that I want her to learn or memorize what each different religion believes or anything like that; I just want to introduce the concept that, unlike when people teach you that T-H-E spells the or 4 + 2 = 6, the God stuff is something that some people believe in and some don't.  I guess it may have to just be something we handle as we go, but she absorbs things really quickly, repeats what she learns a lot, and has a billion questions about everything, so I just thought a little basic intro in the form of a cute book might be cool.  So far, according to amazon, though, no such thing exists.

skippy2310

Barnes and noble has a religious section that might have something. DS goes to a Catholic preschool and while we are Catholic and attend church, I know many of the kids are not. The teachers are great about explaining thingscand keeping things simple, not pushing beliefs on the kids at all.

emilykristene2006

This is the one we have.I hope the link works.

DD goes to a Presbyterian preschool. I have decided not to teach her about the different religions just yet. I don't want her blurting out in the middle of class things I have taught her. I also don't want her to teach the other children that her teacher is wrong about anything. 

It might be too confusing for her right now. I just thought I would let her learn what she will learn now, then I can teach her what I want her to know later when she understands a little more.

A-baybride

emilykristene2006:

DD goes to a Presbyterian preschool. I have decided not to teach her about the different religions just yet. I don't want her blurting out in the middle of class things I have taught her. I also don't want her to teach the other children that her teacher is wrong about anything. 

My DD goes to a Presbyterian preschool as well and DH and I are not religious at all.  One church-based preschool we toured didn't get into religion at all beyond a quick prayer before snacks and meals, but the one she attends has "chapel" 3 times a week where they learn songs and have puppet shows. At this age (she's 3.5) it just seems like it's fun for her and she's not giving us WWJD lectures or anything.  We do want our kids to eventually be exposed to all religions and make their own choices, but I have the concerns EK does at this age about blurting out something in class.  Given that the school was very upfront about the amount of religion they would be exposed to during our tour there, since we went ahead and applied, I feel that it would be extremely disrespectful to have DD say something about not everyone believing what they're teaching.  At 3 and 4, kids haven't quite figured out what's appropriate to say in different situations, and I have to assume everything I say will be repeated at school.

Honestly, I'm not sure what I would say if she flat out asks me questions about what they learn.  I may leave it at, "that's what the Bible says," and leave the deeper discussions for later.  I'm thinking maybe 7-8?

lucyfox

Just curious- why don't you just send her to a non-religious preschool?  Is it cheaper or something for the baptist one?

CubbyMama

lucyfox:

Just curious- why don't you just send her to a non-religious preschool?  Is it cheaper or something for the baptist one?

Yeah, way cheaper and much higher rated and more conveniently located than all the others around.